The Rural Voice, 2004-05, Page 56GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
Email: grey@ofa.on.ca Website: www.ofa.on.ca/grey 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
The Rural Voice is provided to OFA
Members in Grey County by the GCFA
This spring is time to toot our own horn
It looks like spring is here and it's
time to get busy on the land. But just
before we get too busy to look at
anything let's toot our own horn a few
times.
Toot # 1: Congratulations to our Past
President Karl Chittka who won the
Tommy Cooper Award for his
outstanding contribution to agriculture
in Grey and Bruce Counties. The award
was presented to Karl by Dan
Ahlstrand, Agriculture Editor, CFOS
Radio. Owen Sound on April 2 at our
Tommy Cooper Award meeting.
Karl has been active for many years
in the Dundalk area and more recently
as our president and is currently OFA
Regional Director for Grey South, as
well as a Director on the Ontario Farm
Safety Association.
Karl volunteers as a driver for Meals
on Wheels and the Southern Grey
County Home and Community Service
which helps area residents attend their
medical appointments.
Toot #2: Another winner! Paul and
Dorien De Jong and their family, were
recently named as Ontario's 2004
Outstanding Young Farm Family.
Paul is currently President of the
Grey County Federation of Agriculture.
Paul and Dorien operate a 600 -acre
dairy farm near Dundalk, and are
currently changing their operation over
to an organic dairy. Their herd of 73
milking cows is recognized as one of
Grey County's best in the Dairy Herd
Improvement Program. Paul is young
and hopefully has many years to serve
in the area.
Our congratulations to Paul and
Dorien and their family and good luck
when they compete at the National
Competition on November 18 to 20 in
Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Toot #3: This isn't for any one persbn
but for all the people in Grey County
who are planning to make the
International Plowing Match and Rural
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2004
(May meeting rescheduled)
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre
meeting room (Grey Gables)
206 Toronto Street South, Markdaie
Members are welcome to attend
52 THE RURAL VOICE
Expo 2004 an outstanding success.
Accommodations, agricultural
education, antiques. cooking
demonstrations. fashion shows. church
service. fundraising. landscaping,
modern farm machinery. five
entertainment stages, promotions.
souvenirs. team penning, lumberjack
demonstrations. woodlot tour. unique
apple orchard tour, and of course,
competitive plowing with both tractors
and horses.
The list goes on and on but we still
need many more Grey County
volunteers to make light work of all the
projects and make certain the match
will be a success. if you would like to
volunteer please call 1-888-767-8654
or logon www.ipm2004.ca See you
September 22-26 at Meaford.
— Submitted by Allen Hughes
1st Vice President GCFA
OFAC Animal Care Helpline Service
What is the Service?
The Helpline was started by the Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC) in June 1992 as
a way to assist farmers in providing adequate or improved care for their animals and/or in
following practices that meet industry standards.
The Helpline is a farmer -helping -farmer service of advice and referral. Calls received by
the service are given to the appropriate commodity group(s) for follow-up.
The Helpline accepts calls from farmers in need of assistance as well as from anyone
who witnesses what they perceive to be unacceptable conditions. If and when a particular
situation involves obvious abuse or neglect which warrant enforcement, the OSPCA
(Ontario Humane Society) will be called in. However, the purpose of the Helpline is to
prevent such situations from arising in the first place by offering advice and assistance in
providing adequate animal care.
How does it work?
Helpline services can be obtained by calling the OFAC office at 905-821-3880, Monday
to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The Helpline accepts cases involving most agricultural animals: beef, hogs, dairy,
chicken and turkey, deer, rabbits and donkeys. Cases relating to other types of livestock
can be reported 10 the Helpline and will be turned over to the OSPCA (Ontario Humane
Society) for investigation. The Helpline does not accept cases relating to pets — these
should be reported directly to the Humane Society or local animal control.
Callers are asked to provide specific and detailed information necessary to pursue the
case.
This information is then passed on to the appropriate commodity group(s) for follow-up
and/or visit. Visits will be by a producer and/or fieldstaff (in the case of supply -managed
commodities) who will offer any advice/referrals/assistance necessary to correct the
situation. They are required to report back to OFAC who in turn will relay this information
back to the caller. Callers to the Helpline are asked to identify themselves for purposes of
follow-up, but such information is kept strictly confidential with OFAC.
Who can use the Helpline?
Anyone who is having difficulties meeting acceptable levels of care and management
for their farm animals and anyone else who witnesses situations where animals are not
being properly cared for.
Why is the Helpline Service Needed?
The Helpline service came about because people within the agricultural community felt
such a service is needed. The participation and co-operation of commodity groups and
nther related sectors shows support for this service.
The Helpline, unlike the OSPCA who can only act once abuse or neglect has occurred,
can provide the helping hand that is sometimes needed to correct or prevent sub -standard
animal care. The Helpline is one more way for the farming community to work together to
help fellow farmers and farm animals as well as demonstrate to the public that "farmers
care".
The Helpline is to HELP and in doing so, to try and prevent situations from arising that
could result in adverse publicity for agriculture.
Who is OFAC?
The Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC) was formed by the major Ontario livestock and
poultry producer groups in 1988 to promote the responsible production and marketing of
livestock and poultry and through a variety of initiatives to better inform the public of the
excellence of animal agriculture.
Founding Members are:
Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Cattlemen's Association,
Ontario Egg Producers, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Institute of Agrologists,
Ontario Pork Producers' Marketing Board, Ontario Turkey Producers' Marketing Board.0
— Printed with permission from OFAC (www.ofac.org)